EPIRB with GPS

[supersparky]

As I am heading to central Australia for a few months shortly to help a friend on his station I am thinking of buying a EPIRB as I will spend a lot of time out of phone, radio etc and if I get into trouble I was wondering if it would be worth buying one of these..............
................................
I will be doing a few trips with GPS first to record all the tanks etc so should not get lost but a bit concerned that if something happens serious should I get help or just accept what happens. There will be no one else on the property so I will be on my pat malone for a few weeks except for the pesky terrorist calling wanting to camp or drive the track. OHH the power I could have over some people

Do anyone here have one of these or similar or do you think I am just wasting money.

Regards
Brian

Brian , I reckon just get one, and make sure you ALWAYS have a spare set of batteries for the GPS when you are out and about by yourself. It is pretty easy to get bushed in a big paddock that you don't know all that well.

[Dot]

And another reason Brian is there will be NO women out there to come to your rescue.

[homeless]

David I will be taking my Lithium boat battery with me as the last time I was there the ute battery was stuffed and you had to park on a slope and let it run start every time. Not my idea of being safe when there is no way to contact anyone and a possible 100K trek back to the homestead.
I'll be OK with two GPS on board and I wont have his instructions to go off the track "what bloody track, was just a few wheel ruts" go till you reach a creek and then head upstream for two miles. it was a little dip in the ground with no way of telling which way was "upstream" ground looked flat, no rubbish by trees and no apparent ripple etc in the creek bed. Chickened out and missed that one on that trip
There will be no tourist on the track the days I am out checking the water as I have to vet each one before they get a key to open some gates.
Dot no women yes but if there is a nice terrorist in the van park or one of the accommodation sites I MAY offer to take him for a ride for the day.
Takes two days to do the water run each week. South one day and North the other daylight to after dark.
Looking forward to it just waiting to get other duties finished.
Looking at doing a few weeks at Maffra with Blazeaid, just waiting for a long range weather forecast as not to keen to be building fences all day in 35+ heat
Regards
Brian

[Geoff Clifton]

Gooday Brian.

That you've even thought about a PLB means you probably want one. Think of it as insurance but you only pay once for the life of the unit and maybe yours. You'll find enuff money in the bottom left corner of your mattress

How do you decide on which one? Is fully waterproof a consideration. Australian warranty and a local service agent?

How does this one stack up?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PLB-GPS-PERS ... 1e64a56765

[homeless]

Hi Geoff

Always money somewhere for toys.

Yeh there is a DESIRE to get one as I will be on my pat malone for perhaps a month and to think I might have to walk for a month in the bush with no hope of ANYONE coming along is a bit daunting.

The link I posted at the start is a small unit that I could carry with ease on my belt or on the dash and easy to change from one vehicle to another , even though perhaps a bit dearer but in the long run the money is not that important just , do I need it or am I a bit paranoid. ww.ebay.com.au/itm/190770733596?ssPageN ... 1438.l2649

I was also hoping someone could give advise on what they had or had seen someone else had to gauge if one was better than another. All the time I spent at sea we did not have one but we were in radio and radar contact with others, with usually hourly contact with other boats as we worked during the night.

Regards
Brian

[John M]

Hi Brian,
We did a lot of research into this recently and here is the result.
I recently (Xmas) got a "DeLorme inReach 2 way satellite communicator" it does all the epirb things as well as lets you know what it has done, I am also able to receive and send messages to and from selected recipients, it also has a tracking option where you can leave "breadcrumbs" on a home page which enables those that have access to that page to see exactly where you are. https://share.delorme.com/JOHNMurrell#
The units are available from deLorme agents in the States for about $100 cheaper than you can get them in Australia, however there is a catch if you purchase one from the states then you will have to pay $175 to get it authorized. it is available in Aus from http://www.gpstrackingaustralia.com.au/inreach.html
Owing to the age and infirmity of both our parents we need to be contactable at all times which is why we got one of these, the effectiveness is dependent on the plan you choose I have the $19.95 plan but IMHO the $32.95 plan is probably the better option if you are planning to be out mobile range for any length of time.

[homeless]

Hi John good to hear from you again.

I have no need for a phone as I can survive without one.

I have no one that is interested in where I am or what I am doing so therefore don't have a blog or web site etc. I some times contact two of my kids every six months or so or they ring when they need to know something or one runs out of money.

The need is really just in case something happens and I live through it and feel I need to get help (and I might survive after the result )

Interesting map you have. Are the dots where you stop or just where you change direction etc.

You are at one of my favorite places. Lovely site with the view over the dam and the wind farm on the other side. Also a concrete block if you are lucky.

Regards
Brian

[BruceS]

Well I've go some news for you Brian!!
WE all want to know where you are and what you're doing!!!

A lot of boat people use that system or similar. I think their's mostly just works over long range 2-way radio though.
Can receive fax (weather) too.

[homeless]

Not sure if you will know too much as when I leave internet range that will be it till I pop out again a few months later if I get through all the adventure.

It will just be me and my bus and my cameras. Once when i was there I took lots of photos and they used them as a sale item as they sold them to tourist who either did not have a camera or did not think their shots were that good. Still was using some about three years ago when I was there.

Regards
Brian

[Craig]

The spot GPS messenger has had some good reviews
http://www.findmespot.net.au/Shopping.h ... pgodGG0Acg

You can also set it with a basic message to tell your friends/family that you are ok.

I recently bought an Garmin eTrex 10 Outdoor GPS for when I'm prospecting. No good for letting people know where I am though.